I’m not sure if I’ve taken time to blog about what I’m here in Nairobi to accomplish. In short, as several parts of Wycliffe based here in Kenya move into a new building, they wanted help installing new network switches (for linking everything together) and replace two older servers (one which died a week ago and the other which is simply a fast laptop) with two new, very powerful servers. They also intend to condense the total number of servers from 5 to 3, redistributing all the functions in a more intelligent and manageable way. A new accounting package will be installed plus an enterprise version of an anti-virus system. I am reviewing their network implementation and making recommendations on security improvements, and new approaches or capabilities.
Today’s work was much more hands on than any of the other days. While I’d been so far planning and discussing tasks with the IT team here, it was finally time to get one of the new servers setup and installed on the network. Part of what they wanted was for me to work with one or more of the team, adding to their basic knowledge of server operation. Phyllis was my partner for the first server.
We got the disks configured as a RAID array, the operating system installed and patched, and got the server on the network as a “domain controller”. Phyllis and I felt really good about the progress we’d made until we returned from lunch to perform some final (for now) cleanup tasks. That’s when we discovered that this and the other two “domain controllers” weren’t synchronizing the information as they ought to be and, in fact, seemed to be pretty sick.
Fortunately the normal operation of the network was not affected as far as the users were concerned. The bottom line, however, is that whatever diagnostic tools we employed or changes we attempted, things haven’t gotten much better. I left the office building just as it was being secured for the night, around 7 pm, still not certain what had gone wrong or what next steps to take. Big, big item for prayer. As it is, I will need to work on this tomorrow (Saturday).
An answer to the prayers of many is the delivery of the network gear and the second server that had been hung up in customs. I stayed after normal hours, waiting for the delivery from the airport. The driver, who spoke very basic English, arrived in a small Toyota pickup truck and the huge box that I had helped pack at JAARS balanced lop-sided in the back and covered with a tarp against the possibility of rain.
The box, too heavy and bulky for us to ever move, was opened and the two of us moved the individual items by hand into the building. I took an inventory against what we expected and found items missing. The fact that the inside boxes had been opened could have been the customs department doing their job. On the other hand, a missing server drive, video/keyboard cable, and KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) switch hasn’t surprised anyone yet that I’ve talked to. There is a reasonable chance that they’ve been stolen along the route from JAARS to this center. Someone Monday will review what needs to be done. The significant plus for me is that the second server, which I need to have on hand soon, is all here.
I had the Kenyan lunch that is prepared on site and which costs 80 Kenyan shillings, just over $1. It was basically an all-you-can-fit on the reasonably big plate. Today’s item was a thick corn flour paste (looked and tasted like cooked rice smashed together in consistency) with either or both of cooked vinegary cabbage or what appeared to be a mixture of cooked spinach, meat and other stuff. I only took a half portion because that stuff really fills me up.
The women all eat in one circle away from another circle of men. It was a very interesting experience because the circle let all the men be equally able to see and talk. No one had their backs to anyone else. Of course, as always happens with Americans, I was asked “do you know Obama.” I don't think they asked because they like him. That led the discussion into politics where I learned that politicians are the same across the world. As one man said, “bad politics, bad life.” I also learned that Muslims are considered much more effective (smarter) in getting into positions of authority in the government, military and in business. That’s not a trend any of us like.
The only other white man asked if the nationals could tell which tribe someone came from by just looking. They apparently sometimes can but the real giveaway is how they say the same word, either in English or Swahili. The nationals had a good time poking fun at themselves with examples. Then someone asked "why doesn't Obamo have an accent?"
It reminds me that some people can look at us and tell if we’re Christians. Hopefully there is an outward countenance that shows. But the dead giveaway is how we react and what we say. What about you and me? Can others tell what tribe you belong to? Do you tell the good news about Christ?
Today’s work was much more hands on than any of the other days. While I’d been so far planning and discussing tasks with the IT team here, it was finally time to get one of the new servers setup and installed on the network. Part of what they wanted was for me to work with one or more of the team, adding to their basic knowledge of server operation. Phyllis was my partner for the first server.
We got the disks configured as a RAID array, the operating system installed and patched, and got the server on the network as a “domain controller”. Phyllis and I felt really good about the progress we’d made until we returned from lunch to perform some final (for now) cleanup tasks. That’s when we discovered that this and the other two “domain controllers” weren’t synchronizing the information as they ought to be and, in fact, seemed to be pretty sick.
Fortunately the normal operation of the network was not affected as far as the users were concerned. The bottom line, however, is that whatever diagnostic tools we employed or changes we attempted, things haven’t gotten much better. I left the office building just as it was being secured for the night, around 7 pm, still not certain what had gone wrong or what next steps to take. Big, big item for prayer. As it is, I will need to work on this tomorrow (Saturday).
An answer to the prayers of many is the delivery of the network gear and the second server that had been hung up in customs. I stayed after normal hours, waiting for the delivery from the airport. The driver, who spoke very basic English, arrived in a small Toyota pickup truck and the huge box that I had helped pack at JAARS balanced lop-sided in the back and covered with a tarp against the possibility of rain.
The box, too heavy and bulky for us to ever move, was opened and the two of us moved the individual items by hand into the building. I took an inventory against what we expected and found items missing. The fact that the inside boxes had been opened could have been the customs department doing their job. On the other hand, a missing server drive, video/keyboard cable, and KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) switch hasn’t surprised anyone yet that I’ve talked to. There is a reasonable chance that they’ve been stolen along the route from JAARS to this center. Someone Monday will review what needs to be done. The significant plus for me is that the second server, which I need to have on hand soon, is all here.
I had the Kenyan lunch that is prepared on site and which costs 80 Kenyan shillings, just over $1. It was basically an all-you-can-fit on the reasonably big plate. Today’s item was a thick corn flour paste (looked and tasted like cooked rice smashed together in consistency) with either or both of cooked vinegary cabbage or what appeared to be a mixture of cooked spinach, meat and other stuff. I only took a half portion because that stuff really fills me up.
The women all eat in one circle away from another circle of men. It was a very interesting experience because the circle let all the men be equally able to see and talk. No one had their backs to anyone else. Of course, as always happens with Americans, I was asked “do you know Obama.” I don't think they asked because they like him. That led the discussion into politics where I learned that politicians are the same across the world. As one man said, “bad politics, bad life.” I also learned that Muslims are considered much more effective (smarter) in getting into positions of authority in the government, military and in business. That’s not a trend any of us like.
The only other white man asked if the nationals could tell which tribe someone came from by just looking. They apparently sometimes can but the real giveaway is how they say the same word, either in English or Swahili. The nationals had a good time poking fun at themselves with examples. Then someone asked "why doesn't Obamo have an accent?"
It reminds me that some people can look at us and tell if we’re Christians. Hopefully there is an outward countenance that shows. But the dead giveaway is how we react and what we say. What about you and me? Can others tell what tribe you belong to? Do you tell the good news about Christ?
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